Thumb rest for a revolver



Sept. 15, 1959 w. E. LEWIS 2,903,810

REST FOR A REVOLVER Filed'Feb. 9, 1956 &

INVENToR.

j Zll@ Patented Sept. 15, 1959 2,903,810 THUMn REST Eon A REVOLVERWilliam E. Lewis, Indianapolis, Ind.

Application February 9, 1956, .serial No. 554,485

4 claims. (ci. 42-71) This invention relates to a device adapted toimprove the accuracy of revolver-shooting. It is recognized by expertmarksmen that the thumb of the hand which holds a pistol or revolvershould not surround or partially surround the revolver grip but rathershould extend along the frame generally parallel to the barrel. In suchposition, the thumb lacks support from below.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a revolver with asupport for the thumb extending -in the approved position along the sideof the frame and generally parallel to the barrel. A further object ofmy invention is to produce a 4thumb-support which can be readily appliedto or removed from the revolver and which will not interfere with theoperation of shooting the revolver or withdrawing it from the holster.Still another object of the invention is to produce a thumbsupport whichwill be adjustable to accommodate the position of the support to thehand of the individual user.

In carrying out the invention, I form the support to lie against theside of the revolver frame between the grip and cylinder, at least theupper portion of the support being thick enough to provide a thumb-restof adequate width. The support is formed with a relatively thin iin atits rear end to enter between the stock and frame of the revolver and tobe clamped in place by the mea-ns ordinarily employed in securing thestock to the frame. In addition, the support has other provisions which,by engagement with other elements of the revolver, serve to locate thesupport in a definite position on the frame. In one form of theinvention, the support is made in two pieces, one of which is secured inxed position to the revolver in the manner just indicated while theother is adjustable in position.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an elevation of a one-piece thumb-support;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a revolver with the thumbsupport of Fig. lattached thereto;

Fig. 3 is a fragmental plan view of the revolver with the thumb-rest inposition;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig.. 2;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing a support provided with anadjustable thumb-rest; and

Fig. 7 is a section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6.

The thumb-support shown in Fig. l comprises a base 10 having at its rearend a thin iin 11 providing a shoulder 12 formed to iit against theupper end of the stock 13 of a revolver when the tin 11 is interposedbetween the stock and the frame 14 of the revolver. Revolver frames arecommonly formed with a guard 15 which overlies the rear ends of thecartridge chambers in the cylinder 16, and the front of the support isformed, as indicated at 17 to fit against at -least the upper portion ofsuch guard, thereby providing a bearing for the front end of thesupport. In addition, most revolver frames are provided with a stop 18projecting laterally from the Z frame beneath the rear end `of thecylinder 16; and the front portion of the support is desirably providedwith a notch 2l) which, by engaging such stock, provides further meansfor locating `the support in the plane of the revolver frame.

Toprovide means in addition to the stock 13 for holdling the supportagainst the frame, I may employ the ordinary thumb-piece 22 whichcontrols the latch that is released in opening of the revolver. As willbe clear from Fig. 5, such thumb piece is secured to an element -23ofthe latch mechanism by means of a screw 24, and the frame 1.4 isslotted to permit-the forefand-aft of the 'thnmbipiece and latch elementnecessary in controlling the latch. The thumb-support is provided at itsfront with a deep notch 25 coextensive with the slot in the revolverframe; and along the sides and rear end of such notch the base 10 isrelieved, as indicated at 26, to receive the thumb-piece 22 andaccommodate its movement. In most revolvers, when the thumb-piece issecured to the latch-element 23, its body is spaced outwardly from theside of the frame 14 by a distance suficient to permit reception of theweb left by the relief 26 in the base 10i; but if such space does notexist, a washer or spacer may be interposed between the thumbpiece andthe latch-element 23. The thumb-piece, by overlapping the sides of thenotch 25, provides an additional means for retaining the supportinposition against the side of the frame 14.

The thumb support of Fig. l may be made as a single plastic molding or,preferably, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, as a two-piece constructioncomprising a sheet-metal base 28 to which the remainder of the supportis secured by cementing. Above the relief 26, the support is thickenedto provide a thumb-rest 29. The front edge of the body 10 below therelief 26 is desirably chamfered as indicated at 31 in Fig. 4 so as toeliminate any abrupt shoulder which would interfere with movement of therevolver into or out of a holster.

In the modied form of thumb-support illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, Iemploy a base in the form of a sheetmetal plate 35 which iits beneaththe stock 13 and is formed at its front end for locating engagement withthe :guard 15 and stop 18 as in the case of the support shown in Fig. l.The plate 35 is also provided with a notch 36 corresponding in locationand purpose to the notch 25 of Fig. l, and the sides of such notch areoverlapped by the thumb-piece 22 to cooperate with the stock 13 inholding the thumb-support in position.

Near the fro-nt upper corner of the plate 35 there is rigid with it anoutwardly projecting frustoconical boss 38 received in a recess ofcomplementary shape provided in a thumb-rest 39. A screw 40 extendingthrough the thumb-rest 39 and into the boss 38 holds the thumb-rest andplate 35 together. By loosening the screw 40, the thumb-rest can beadjusted to different angular positions about the axis of the boss 38;and when the screw 40 is again tightened, the taper of the boss 38 willprovide a tight lit securing the thumb-rest in its adjusted position.

In iboth constructions shown, the thumb-rest provides support for thethumb and improves accuracy of shooting. The support does not inteferein any way with operation or handling of the revolver. The device can be-made to iit any standard revolver and can be l'applied or removed byremoving and re-applying the screw which holds the stock in place.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a revolver having a frame, a thumb-support havinga base secured to said frame at one side thereof, a thumb-rest, andmeans for securing said thumb-rest to said base in any of Ia pluralityof tilted positions for disposing said thumb-rest at the desired angleof tilt with respect to the axis of the revolver barrel.

2. The combination of claim 1 with the addition that said base isprovided with a circular lug projecting from the -fbase laterally of theframe, said thumb-rest having a circular opening receiving said lug.

3. The combination of claim 2 with the addition that said lug isfnustoconical, said opening being shaped complementarily to said lug,said securing means comprising a screw passing through said thumb-restinto said lug and adapted when tightened to draw the Wall of saidopening into gripping engagement with the lug.

4. In `combination with a revolver having -a frame, a grip portionincluding a stock removably secured to a side of said irame, a latch, alatch-operating thumb- .piece Slidable along said frame and spacedoutwardly therefrom, and one or more elements projecting laterally `fromsaid yframe in advance of said stock; a thumb-support having a bodyextending along the side of said frame between said stock and saidprojecting elements, the rear References Cited in the le of this patentUNITED STATES PATENTS D.142,016 Birk Aug. 14, 1945 140,028 Galand June17, 1873 209,444 Ballard Oct. 29, 1878 1,940,362 McClarin Dec. 19, 19331,962,775 Jones .Tune 12, 1934 2,654,174 Hansen Oct. 6, 1953

